Midpen guided activities are led by trained volunteer docent naturalists. All are welcome.Visit the beautiful redwoods and verdant vegetation of the lower portion of Purisima Creek Trail with Docent Naturalists Nick Yatsko, Kate Bauer, and Nancy Weintraub. You'll enjoy a moderately-paced out-and-back hike under the canopy of these second-growth trees while searching for ferns and banana slugs. Bring a lunch for a creekside stop along the Craig Britton Trail. Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after August 19 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close September 1 at 2:00 p.m. Where to Meet:From the North: Accessible from Purisima Creek Road. From the Highway 92 and Highway 1 intersection in Half Moon Bay, travel on Highway 1 south approximately 4.3 miles. Turn left on Verde Road. After turning on to Verde Road and traveling 1/4-mile, continue straight to remain on what becomes Purisima Creek Road. (Verde Road splits off to the right.) Travel approximately 3.7 miles on Purisima Creek Road. From the South: Accessible from Purisima Creek Road. From the Highway 84 and Highway 1 intersection in San Gregorio, travel on Highway 1 north approximately 6.4 miles. Turn right on the third Verde Road intersection. After turning on to Verde Road and traveling 1/4-mile, continue straight to remain on what becomes Purisima Creek Road. (Verde Road splits off to the right.) Travel approximately 3.7 miles on Purisima Creek Road.

Join expert EV docents for an exploration of the science and nature of the Palo Alto Baylands.

Join expert EV docents for an exploration of the science and nature of the Palo Alto Baylands.

Midpen guided activities are led by trained volunteer docent naturalists. All are welcome.Join Docent Naturalists Lindsay Joye, Fran Keeler, Inga Buyse, and Nick Yatsko for a moderately-paced, exercise-focused hike beneath the redwoods along the Purisima Creek, Grabtown Gulch, and Borden Hatch Mill trails. This route encompasses 1,400 feet of elevation gain. Bring a snack or lunch for a short break. Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after August 26 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close September 8 at 2:00 p.m. Scenic Aerobic hikes are offered at different preserves every second Wednesday. The route of each hike will be determined by the docents based on current trail and weather conditions. Where to Meet:From the North: Accessible from Purisima Creek Road. From the Highway 92 and Highway 1 intersection in Half Moon Bay, travel on Highway 1 south approximately 4.3 miles. Turn left on Verde Road. After turning on to Verde Road and traveling 1/4-mile, continue straight to remain on what becomes Purisima Creek Road. (Verde Road splits off to the right.) Travel approximately 3.7 miles on Purisima Creek Road. From the South: Accessible from Purisima Creek Road. From the Highway 84 and Highway 1 intersection in San Gregorio, travel on Highway 1 north approximately 6.4 miles. Turn right on the third Verde Road intersection. After turning on to Verde Road and traveling 1/4-mile, continue straight to remain on what becomes Purisima Creek Road. (Verde Road splits off to the right.) Travel approximately 3.7 miles on Purisima Creek Road.

Join the EV for a fun exploration of local open space, led by our environmental educators. Intended for all ages 6 and up.

Midpen guided activities are led by trained volunteer docent naturalists. All are welcome.Explore the fascinating world of arachnids on this night hike with Docent Naturalists Jack Owicki, Debbi Brusco, Vivian Neou, Ray Curiel, and Annette Herz. Will a tarantula will cross your path as you search for timid arachnids like scorpions? Your leisurely-paced route will travel along the Canyon Trail and others, with up to 600 feet of elevation gain. Capable, attentive children 10+ years-old are welcome. Bring a flashlight and include a red filter if you have one. (Note: A cell-phone light will not last long enough.) Please eat dinner beforehand but there will be a snack stop, so bring ground cover to sit on. Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after August 28 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close September 11 at 2:00 p.m. Where to Meet:Meet at the Monte Bello Parking Area on Page Mill Road (across from Los Trancos Preserve), 7 miles west of I-280 or 1.5 miles east of Skyline Boulevard. Those traveling from I-280 on Page Mill Rd. should allow approximately 35 minutes travel time.

Midpen guided activities are led by trained volunteer docent naturalists. All are welcome.Join Docent Naturalists Sabra Abraham, Lindsay Joye, and Nancy Weintraub on this challenging loop in the redwoods. While the valley might still be dry and toasty, this moderately-paced hike will be cool and shady. You'll trek through the forest on the Purisima Creek Trail, head northwest on the Craig Britton Trail, and return on the Harkins Ridge Trail. There will be a lunch break along a beautiful small stream and westward vistas on the descent. Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after September 4 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close September 17 at 2:00 p.m. Where to Meet:From the North: Accessible from Purisima Creek Road. From the Highway 92 and Highway 1 intersection in Half Moon Bay, travel on Highway 1 south approximately 4.3 miles. Turn left on Verde Road. After turning on to Verde Road and traveling 1/4-mile, continue straight to remain on what becomes Purisima Creek Road. (Verde Road splits off to the right.) Travel approximately 3.7 miles on Purisima Creek Road. From the South: Accessible from Purisima Creek Road. From the Highway 84 and Highway 1 intersection in San Gregorio, travel on Highway 1 north approximately 6.4 miles. Turn right on the third Verde Road intersection. After turning on to Verde Road and traveling 1/4-mile, continue straight to remain on what becomes Purisima Creek Road. (Verde Road splits off to the right.) Travel approximately 3.7 miles on Purisima Creek Road.

Midpen guided activities are led by trained volunteer docent naturalists. All are welcome.Spend an early autumn day on the shady and cool Purisima Creek Trail with Docent Naturalists Nick Yatsko, Nancy Weintraub, and Catherine Xun. You’ll climb and descend on a moderately-paced loop hike through second-growth redwoods on the Grabtown Gulch and Borden Hatch Mill trails. How many banana slugs will you see? Are the ferns still lush even after summer? Bring lunch or a snack. Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after September 10 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close September 23 at 2:00 p.m. Where to Meet:From the North: Accessible from Purisima Creek Road. From the Highway 92 and Highway 1 intersection in Half Moon Bay, travel on Highway 1 south approximately 4.3 miles. Turn left on Verde Road. After turning on to Verde Road and traveling 1/4-mile, continue straight to remain on what becomes Purisima Creek Road. (Verde Road splits off to the right.) Travel approximately 3.7 miles on Purisima Creek Road. From the South: Accessible from Purisima Creek Road. From the Highway 84 and Highway 1 intersection in San Gregorio, travel on Highway 1 north approximately 6.4 miles. Turn right on the third Verde Road intersection. After turning on to Verde Road and traveling 1/4-mile, continue straight to remain on what becomes Purisima Creek Road. (Verde Road splits off to the right.) Travel approximately 3.7 miles on Purisima Creek Road.

Midpen guided activities are led by trained volunteer docent naturalists. All are welcome.Join Docent Naturalists Frances Reneau and Helena Cohen on a leisurely-paced hike from the Methuselah Tree to the tafoni sandstone formation and back along the Fir, Tafoni, Sierra Morena, and other trails. You'll learn about binomial nomenclature (woohoo!) with a focus on the names of local native forest trees, like coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), Douglas fir (Pseudotseuga menziesii), and tanoak (Lithocarpus densifloris), as well as various shrubs and forbs. Where do all these names—both common and scientific—come from, and what do they mean? Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after September 12 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close September 25 at 2:00 p.m. Where to Meet:Meet at Methuselah Roadside Parking on Skyline Boulevard, 9.0 miles south of Highway 92 or 3.5 miles north of Highway 84. There is limited roadside parking on both sides of Skyline Blvd. but please make sure to park fully off the pavement.

Midpen guided activities are led by trained volunteer docent naturalists. All are welcome.On the night of autumn's fullest moon, join Docent Naturalists Catherine Xun, Mari Aldridge, Jianfei Hu, and Naureen Moon for a moderately-paced hike to Borel Hill to watch the moon rise in the east. Wherever you stand, you look up at the same moon with others, a night of reunion known as the Harvest Moon in the West and the Mid-Autumn Festival in the East. You'll celebrate both with moon stories and mooncakes among families, friends, and non-human nature. Led in English and Mandarin, this hike warmly welcomes English-speaking participants. Your route follows the Ridge, Ancient Oaks, and Charquin trails. Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after September 12 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close September 25 at 2:00 p.m. 秋夜最圆的一轮明月，正从东方升起。中秋，是华人心中最深的牵挂。月圆人团圆，无论相隔多远，我们望见的都是同一轮明月。西方称它「丰收月」(Harvest Moon)，同样庆祝团聚。中秋之际，诚邀您与家人朋友，及山野万物相伴，跟随义务自然解说员 Catherine Xun、Mari Aldridge、Jianfei Hu 和 Naureen Moon，沿 Ridge、Ancient Oaks、Charquin 步道登上 Borel Hill。赏月，品月饼，听月亮的故事。中英双语带领。 但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。 报名须知：需提前预约，9月12日中午12:00 开放报名，9月25日下午2:00 截止。 Where to Meet:Meet at the Russian Ridge Parking Area on the northwest corner of the Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35) and Page Mill/Alpine Road intersection (across Skyline Blvd. on the right). Those traveling from I-280 on Page Mill Rd. should allow approximately 40 minutes travel time.

Midpen guided activities are led by trained volunteer docent naturalists. All are welcome.Grab your mountain bike and join Docent Naturalists Linda Wegner and Steve Crawford on an intermediate ride on which you’ll also learn about the history of this popular preserve. Your route covers several trails, including the Toyon, Seven Springs Loop, and Woodhills Loop, as well as climbs to Maisie’s Peak, Hunter’s Point, and Nob Hill. Experience with riding both single track and fire roads is required. Bring a snack to fuel your climb. Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after September 19 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close October 2 at 2:00 p.m. Where to Meet:Meet at the Prospect Parking Area on Prospect Road in Cupertino.  Exit Highway 85 at De Anza Boulevard.  (From northbound 85 turn left on De Anza Blvd. and from southbound 85 turn right on De Anza Blvd.)  Travel on De Anza Blvd. (toward the mountains) for about 0.5 miles.  Turn right on Prospect Rd.  At the first stop sign, turn left and cross the railroad tracks to remain on Prospect Rd. Follow Prospect Rd. for 1.3 miles, turning left after the Saratoga Country Club, until you reach the preserve parking lot.